Package-tie.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

P. L. WILKBRSON.

. PACKAGE TIE APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27; 1901.

A TTOR/VE Y5 THE NORRIS PETERS 5a., wasnmcrmv. 124 c.

TE SATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERRY L. WILKE RSON, OF CUBA, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEANDER POOLE,

JR, OF CUBA, ALABAMA.

PACKAGE-TIE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERRY L. WILKERsoN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at- Cuba, in the county of Sumter and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful P ackage-Tie, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to package ties and more particularly to means whereby a cord or similar flexible device can be securely fastened about a package or bundle without the necessity of tying or knotting the same.

The device is particularly designed for use by letter carriers railway mail clerks and others for holding together letters, etc., although it can also be used for securing papers in bundles which it is desired to file away. In fact the device can be used efficiently wherever it is desired to hold papers, etc., in compact bundles. Heretofore it has been customary for letter carriers 'to use straps which are buckled around the bundles of letters and considerable time is wasted in securing the strap-about the letters and in readjusting it after some of the mail has been removed from the bundle.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device which constitutes an efiicient substitute for such a strap, is much cheaper in construction, and can be more quickly and securely fastened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of fastener whereby the cord can be securely held in any position to which it may be adjusted.

W'ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device applied to a package of letters; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the fastener; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section therethrough.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 is a disk formed of leather or other suitable material and constituting the base of the fastener. Secured upon this base by means of rivets 2 or in any other preferred manner is a metal strip 3 having a tongue 4 extending from one end thereof and provided with an opening 5 registering with a corre- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1907.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Serial No. 364,934.

sponding opening 6 in the base 1. ing loop 7 embraces the tongue 4 and is held in position thereon by a cord 8 having a metal tip 9 at one end and a knot 10 at its other end. This cord extends through the two openings 5 and 6, the knot 10 serving to prevent its withdrawal from the openings,

A retain and that portion of the cord between the the end portions of which lap the stud 11 andv are spaced apart a slight distance to facilitate the insertion of a cord between the jaws. The ends of these jaws are out-turned as shown at 14 to form guides designed to direct a cord between the aws when the same is drawn against said ends.

In using the device herein described the cord 8 is drawn around a package to be secured and is placed between the outturned ends 14 and pulled downward. This will cause the jaws 13 to spring apart sufficiently to allow the cord to move onto the prong 12 and against the end of the stud 11. The end portions of the jaws will lap the cord and hold it down on the prong as shown particularly in Fig. 2 so that the cord is positively held against longitudinal movement. The end of the cord can if desired be threaded through the loop 7 so that the user can grasp the free end of the cord and carry the package thereby without danger of the cord pulling off of the prong 12. When it is desired to release the cord for the purpose of readjusting it to the package or for removing it therefrom it is merely necessary to pull upon the cord with sufficient force to withdraw it from the prong 12 and from between the end portions of the jaws 13. As the prong 12 seldom if ever projects into the cord more than once in the same spot it will be understood that said cord can be used a large number of times before it is rendered useless. When the cord becomes worn, however, it can be readily removed by pulling on the knotted end thereof. A new cord can then be inserted through the openings 5 and 6. It is to be understood that the fastener consisting of the disk 1 and the parts secured thereto is of such a construction as to be practically indestructible and the only part of the device subjected to wear and tear, to wit, the cord, can be easily renewed at an exceedingly small cost.

It Wlll be seen that the device is very durable and com act and will be found advantageous not on y by letter carriers but wherever it is desired to secure papers or packages and bundles. Importance is attached to the fact that absolutely no adjustment is necessary to secure the cord in place. A single pull on the cord will direct it between the jaws and onto the prong and another pull will be sufficient to withdraw it from the prong and from between the jaws.

In order that a number of these fasteners may be assembled for the purposes of transporting them from place to place an opening such as shown at 15 is formed within the disk 1 at one side of the strip 3 and this opening is designed to receive the stem of a file or a stiff wire so that a plurality of these fasteners can be assembled together and easily transported without becoming crushed or entangled.

What is claimed is:

1. A package tie comprising a base, a strip secured thereon, a loop loosely mounted be tween the base and strip, a flexible element extending through the base and strip and constituting a retainer for the loop, and

means upon the strip for engaging and retaining said element.

2. A package tie comprising a strip formed in a single piece and having integral yieldable jaws extending therefrom, a stud upon the strip and between the jaws, a prong extending from the stud, and a flexible element secured at one end to the strip and insertible between the jaws and onto the prong, said stud constituting a sto for the flexible element and said jaws constituting means for binding said element upon the prong and against the stud.

3. A package tie comprising a flexible base, a strip secured thereon, integral oppositely disposed yieldable jaws outstanding from the strip, a prong interposed between the jaws, a loop loosely mounted between the base and strip, and a flexible element extending through the base and strip and constituting a retainer for the loop, said element beinginsertible between the jaws and onto the prong.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. PERRY L. WVILKERSON.

Witnesses:

A. J. MCELROY, H. H. ANDREWS. 

